Keep Calm and Swim On.

The high school season is quickly coming to an end.  It's been a good year.  The A-League meet is tomorrow, and I'm excited to see how Shi will do.  She's still chasing a 50 Free qualifying time, and this could be the meet to do it.

A couple weeks ago LHS had their final dual meet v Ponderosa.  Here's the cheer that started them off:

Some things to note about this meet.  Since it was at our local Rec Center AND it was listed as a home meet, I didn't think I would need to pay to attend.  Upon arrival, I was told that it {mysteriously} changed to a Pondo home meet, and that yes, I needed $5 to get in.  I didn't have any cash, so made a deal to time for the meet in exchange for entrance.

As luck would have it, I was handed the "pickle" for lane 4.  A Legend lane.  Most likely the one Shilo would be swimming most events in.  I thought it was different, since at most meets everyone is very careful to control the margin of error in the cheating arena, if you know what I mean.  Usually, in a non-touch-pad-timed meet there would be 3 timers per lane, with at least one parent from EACH team in every lane.  This particular meet I was the only Legend timer, timing a Legend lane. I wondered if the times from this meet would even "qualify" for leagues and state, but was assured they would.

I felt that this situation put a weight of responsibility on me to be as exact as possible in clicking the pickle the moment the swimmer touched the wall.  I did not want to click it a nano-second too soon, but, of course, wanted the best end-result possible.  I took my job VERY seriously.

Why, you ask, am I expounding these details?  I was next to a Ponderosa parent, timing a Ponderosa lane.  The fast lane (like mine).  The mother in the lane was friendly, and we chatted a little before the meet.  She pointed out her daughter to me, a tall VERY blonde girl, and I pointed out Shi.  Just a little pre-meet chit chat amongst friendly rivals.

When the 50 Free rolled around, I noticed that her daughter was in her lane, and Shilo was in mine.  The starter went off and the girls shot off the blocks.  I could tell this was going to be a darn close race. My eyes were on Shi's fingers and the wall.  I didn't notice the exact location of the other swimmer's hand, but knew that Shilo would need to hit the wall hard if she had a chance of winning.

I clicked the pickle as soon as I knew she had touched.  26.6.  Her best HS meet time of the season, but still .6 seconds away from the 5A State qualifying time.  I didn't hear the exact time of the other swimmer, but knew that according to the pickle, she had won.  There were cheers of excitement as she qualified for her 4A time.  "Bummer," I thought.  I was still happy for Shilo.  That she got such a great time.  That she finished hard and fast.

I felt a little uneasy, though.  I kind of felt that Shilo had out-touched the other girl, but couldn't be confident because my complete focus was on Shilo's fingers and the wall.  I congratulated the mom, and let it go (I'm really trying to do more of that these days).  Later, as I talked to Shilo, she also felt that she had out-touched the other girl.  She said, "I feel like I clearly saw both of our hands, and I totally thought that I had touched first."

On to another race.  The 200 Free relay.  Shilo wasn't in it, but was standing beside the block, cheering the girls on.  It was another close race (lanes 3 and 4 again), with lots of cheering going on.  I was taking my timing job very seriously as the final swimmers headed for the wall.  The pickle was clicked, and the race went to Ponderosa.  I could overhear the girls from the other team asking what their time was.  A whole second faster than our time.  NO. WAY.  Both Shilo and I, again, believed that we had out-touched and won. At this point I felt very sure that there was some time-fudging going on.  That mom was just a little too quick on the clicker, and surely everyone could see that even if they HAD out-touched (hardly even debatable), it was certainly not by an entire second.  At this point I told Shilo that the times couldn't possibly be "official."  She checked with her coach and it was again confirmed.

Shilo prepared for her 100 Back.  She would be in my lane.  I could tell throughout the race that she was swimming fast, since towards the end she had nearly a half-lap lead.  I figured that Pondo just didn't have a good back-stroker, and carefully waited to click the pickle until her fingers had clearly touched the wall.

"What was my time," she asked.

I looked down at the timer and said, "102.6."

"102?" She looked shocked.  It took me a minute (I was totally in timer mode and hadn't even thought much about what time Shilo was looking to make), and then the realization swept over me.  She had taken 1.5 seconds off of her State-qualifying time.  She had swam it faster than she had ever swam it in her life.

"You're sure these times are official?" I asked (for the millionth time).  Suddenly I WANTED them to be.  Funny how things can change.

SO, even with the drama going on in my head, the meet was a great success.  Legend handily won, despite little-miss-cheater-pants next to me.  Shilo did awesome, and I feel completely confident that her times were honest and accurate.  I can't wait to see how things go this weekend (with touch-pads and immediately posted visible results).  Regardless, I am so proud of her!

Good luck, Shi!

Birthdays.

We celebrated several birthdays this month (it's still January, right?)

Mauri had a party, here are some of the highlights:

Invites.

Set up.

Party.

There's a Party at the Corner game.

Just dance.

Pizza and veggies and Cheetos and chips.

Movie: The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Intermission: Gifts, cake, and crepes.

Glitter nails after intermission.

A good time was had by all.

Bill's birthday celebration.  On a Sunday.

Burgers and fries.

Flanked by two beautiful daughters.

Handmade card and gift.

BYU sweatshirt from Costco.

Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes with some homemade whipped cream and flaming candles.

Phone calls and hangouts with the distant fam.

Who could ask for anything more?


Lynnea had a birthday, too.
Since I don't have a picture of her fun party with yummy cheesecake, I found one in my files.
If my candle count is correct, she was 12.  Perfect.

Happy Birthday, all!

Love you :-*

Goodbye, Buddy.

While we were driving Lex to Rexburg, about 30 minutes out, Shilo got a text from Michaela, who was pet sitting for us while we were away.

She thought Buddy might be dying. He was sitting on the floor of the cage. He was obviously not well.

Within the course of about 15 minutes or so, in spite of Michaela's efforts to comfort and help, Buddy was gone. Worried that perhaps he may still have a little birdie heartbeat, I, via Shilo's texting, told Michaela to wrap him in a washcloth and leave him on the counter (vs. putting him in the garage, just in case there was any possibility he was still alive - the cold garage would kill him for sure). I told her that she could check at the end of the day, and if yes, he was definitely dead, to place him in the garage.

I could tell that Shilo was affected by the sudden turn of events, and I was also sad that Michaela had to deal with a deceased bird. I was surprised at the emotion we all felt as we talked about Buddy, and about how we would have to break the news to Mauri, who had stayed home with Grandma to give us room for all of Lexee's stuff.  It put a damper on our high spirits, but as we arrived to Lex's apartment, our minds were busied with other events of the day.

The ride back to Salt Lake was difficult. Bill was shedding tears for Lex, Shilo and I were shedding tears for Buddy. I was reminded how Mauri wanted to give the birds a final goodbye before we headed off on our long, 10-day adventure.

"They'll be here when you get back," I said.

Buddy wasn't.  I'm sure I was covering my emotions about Lex being so far from home with the sadness of Buddy's sudden passing.  Truth is, we don't know if those we love will be there "when we get back" or not.  That sentiment was too hard to think about, so I cried about Buddy, and about how devastated Mauri would be when she heard the news.

Mar was heartbroken when we told her late that night. We all cried. We talked about Heavenly Father's plan. Grandma and Grandpa were there to help soothe and comfort.

I appreciate that Buddy was a beautiful little parakeet. One of God's creations. But I didn't {love} Buddy. Honestly, I'd been looking for good reasons to find the birds a new home. As a non-pet-lover, I've been inundated with more pets than I ever imagined allowing over the past few years.

Buddy's passing was an outlet for other emotions.  The emotions that are finally catching up with Bill's. The visible change in our family. More kids away from home than at home. The emptying nest. 


Here's a {loving} tribute to Buddy (and a more loving tribute to my sweet girl that loved him so much):

Mauri made him a special grave marker.

We found the PERFECT box, and Mar made it beautiful. We all wrote a note to Buddy on the sides.

Billy-my-hero had a few scriptures ready for the funeral, then we sang You Are My Sunshine, a song Mauri would sing to Buddy and Tweety each night before drifting off to sleep.

Goodbye, Buddy.

Guys with guns.

On New Years Day, Bill, Austin, Taylor, and Uncle Matt (Barron - we have two Uncle Matts) braved the freeeeezing temps to do some target practice.  The girls and I hung out at Britt's, cozy on the sofa, watching a flick, munching, chatting, and sorting through her college leftovers. Nice and warm.

Here is the shoot-out pictorial (with limited commentary):

 The target.

Guys with guns.

I think Bill is being silly. I can't be positive, though.

 Frozen tough guys with guns.